Highway guard



Nov. 10, 1936. Q w. F. SCHULZ ,0

HIGHWAY GUARD Filed June 7, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 Nov. 10, 1936. w, ESCH Z 2,060,128

HIGHWAY GUARD Filed June '7 1935 :5 Sheets-Sheet a Pawnee Nov. 10, 1936l PATENT OFFICE" monwar GUARD Walter F. Schulz, Youngstown, Ohio,assignor to Truscon Steel Company, Youngstown, 0hio,'a

q 'p ration of Ohio Application June 7, 1935, Serial No. 25391 1oClaims. (crass-13.1)

This inventionrelates to highway guards which are arranged at one sideof the road shoulder to prevent vehicles out of control from leaving thehighway'and thereby minimizing the consequent damage.

Primarily, the invention is directed to improvements in the type ofguard utilizing a flexible sheet metal strip or guard rail having itsopposite ends anchored by heavy duty spring devices to the end posts,while the intermediate portions of the strip are supported by bracketsmovably mounted on the roadside face of intermediate.

posts. In that connection a distinctive object of the invention is toprovide positive means for insuring sliding and rocking movement of thestrip supporting brackets relative to the intermediate posts even thoughthe bolts which connect the brackets to the posts are drawn tight sothat the strip can freely expand and contract under temperature changesand also to insure that when the strip is deflected under impact theforce of the blow will be freely transmitted to the end. or terminalposts and absorbed by the terminal springs which are the sole tensioningmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip supporting bracketincluding novel rein-' forced buffer sections which will yield onlyunder direct impact imposed on the strip at ornear the bracket position,said buffer elements being .so arranged that the flange portions thereofmay be readily and rigidly connected to the guard strip and theattaching plate of the bracket without requiring awkward manipulation oftools,

thereby greatly facilitating assembly and installation.

- In addition to the foregoing general and'special objects, it isproposed to make the offsetting brackets and buffer supports in such away that they can only be installed in the proper manner by unskilledlabor to insure reliable functioning of the strip, thereby eliminatingthe possibility the noyel construction, combination andarrange ment ofparts hereinafter more; fully described, i1-

lustrated and claimed.

bodying the present improvements.

. tion shown inFig. 8.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shownin theaccompanying drawings, in which:---

Figure 1 is-a top plan viewof a guard rail em- Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the construction 5 shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the brackets connecti 1gthe guard strip to an intermediate post.- 10

1 Figure 4 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 51s a front elevation, partly in section of the constructionshown in Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clamping,

, in "Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the construc- Figure 11 is a detailcross-sectional view of the modified washer and bracket plate.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective' view of the modified washer.

Similar reference characters designate corre- 30 sponding partsthroughout the several figures of the drawings.

According to the embodiment shown in the drawings the invention includesa guard rail or strip A comprising a plurality of sheet metal strip 35sections securely connected together to provide the desired length ofcontinuous guard rail for the particular installation. The extreme endsA of the continuous strip are connected by spring tensioning devicesdesignated generally as B to the 40 end posts or so-called dead men C,so that the entire strip or rail A is held under tension throughoutfromend to end solely from the devices B at the posts positioned at theextreme end of each installation. For the purpose of movably supportingthe strip or guard rail A at intermediate locations suitable fillerposts D are provided at spaced intervals between the'end posts Cand thestrip or guard rail is connected thereto .by novel supporting bracketsE. 4

' One of the distinctive features of the invention is to provide afool-proof installation in the sense that the strip or guard rail canonly be supported by brackets connected to intermediate posts in such away that the brackets may move Y or shift a limited distance relative tothe post to compensate for expansion or contraction of the strip orguard rail and to also shift or move when the strip is subjected toimpact thereby torelieve the strain on the strip between adjacent postsreceiving the bulk of the impact and insuring transmission of the forceof the impact to the end spring devices B. Consequently, the presentarrangement serves to more equally distribute and cushion the force of amoving load, striking the guard rail, over the entire structure asdistinguished from concentrating or focusing the strain on a localizedportion of the strip and the brackets of adjacent posts. I

Referring first to the features of construction which carry into effectthe foregoing desirable features, it may be pointed out that thebrackets E which support the strip or guard rail on an intermediate posteach include a pair of arc shaped resilient members l|. These membershave the crown of their are or arch shaped portions 2 adjacent eachother, thereby presenting out-turned flanges 4 and 5 respectively forconnecting with a bracket plate 6 and the strip or guard rail A. It willbe apparent that since the spring members open outwardly, ready means ofaccess is provided to the bolts or other fastenings 4' which connect theflanges 4 with the back bracket plate 8 and also to the fastenings 5which connect the flanges 5 with the guard rail. A workman installingthe device may readily assemble the fastenings in place and due to theample clearance p vided by the relatively widely spaced flanges 4 and 5can readily manipulate his wrench or other tool to quickly tighten thenuts on the fastening bolts.

Where relatively great stiffness is required to meet heavy impacts theback plate 6 may be of channel formation so that its upper and loweredges are ofl'set asindicated at 6'. To facilitate mounting of thebracket on the post, the body portion 5 of the plate is provided with ahorizontally elongated opening or slot 1. A novel clamping washerelement 8 is intended to cooperate with the plate 6 for the purpose ofholding the entire bracket on the .post D and also to provide aspace inwhich a portion of the bracket may shift while clamped on the post. Tothat end the washer plate 8 is formed with a central offset shoulderportion or integral boss 9 which is substantially as high as the widthof the slot but shorter than the length thereof and intended to passthrough the same to take a firm bearing against the roadside face of thepost D. The distance that the boss projects from the rear face of thewasher is slightly greater than the thickness of the metal plate inwhich the opening I is made so that the boss will provide a support onwhich the plate can shift while the inner face of the boss or offsetwill engage directly with the post. The major portion or body of thewasher is large enough to mask or cover the entire slot I and will thushold the bracket plate 8 in positions or wings l of the clamping memberare preferably inclined or flared outward y so that the back or bracketplate 6 may also have a relative rolling motion on the post when theguard rail is subjected to heavy impact.

That is to say, when the guard rail or strip is impacted between posts,the bracket mounting described, including the slots 1 in the back plate6, and the forwardly inclined wings AB of the washer plate permit thebracket to have a rocking movement in the direction of the impactwithout undue impedance or interference to the transmission of the loaddirectly to the end tensioning means B, and without interference to themaintenance of such tension solely from the end tensioning means B. Thetype of washer and bracket plate shown in Figs. 3. 4, 6 and '7, are usedwhere specifications require the brackets to withstand maximum impact,and where it is required to have the bracket more flexible, the type ofbracket plate shown in Figs. 8-10 inclusive.

The foregoing arrangement inherently compels a workman installing thebracket to mount it on the post so that it will readily shift upondemand of the strip or guard rail A. This is an important featurebecause assembly can not be incorrectly performed and insures that allchanges in the length of the strip due to temperature variations andimpact will be transmitted directly to the spring devices B at theopposite ends of the strip.

The integral boss on the washer not only saves a separate shim orspacing washer which is likely not to be used, but also cuts down theassembly operation by another step which results in time and laborsaving.

With further reference to the intermediate supporting bracket E it mayalso be pointed out that the are shaped resilient members or springs l-lare intended primarily to serve as rail-offsetting elements, andcgndarily as buffers for an impact at or adjacent the posts. Toassist instiflening the resilient members I-l, the same are provided at suitableintervals with inset reinforcing ribs I'-. These ribs stiffen the bodyof the spring members and extend substantially to the location of thefastening receiving openings in the flanges 4 and 5 so that the entireresilient member is reinforced and strengthened against collapse underdirect impact.

It may be pointed out that when the buffer elements l-l of theoffsetting brackets are connected to the guard strip A by the fastenings5, the strip is rigidly connected to the offsetting bracket. Also, thebuffer elements l-| can have no movement relative to each other andtherefore, can not, under any circumstances, exert any tension on theguard strip in the direction of its length independently of the terminalspring tensioning devices B. In other words, the guard strip is soconnected to the ofl'setting bracket that any longitudinal movement ofthe strip, due to impact or expansion or contraction, will carry theoilsetting brackets with it due to the slotted back plate of the bracketmoving on its support or rolling thereon after the fashion of a pivotaccording to the character of the impact.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive all of theessential features and characteristics of the invention heretoforedescribed are preserved. previously indicated, itmay be desirable, tomeet certain requirements or specifications, to have the intermediatesupporting bracket relatively flexible to be responsive to light blowsor impacts. Accordingly, in that event the bracket structure E may beemployed. As will be observed'from Fig. 8 the back plate of the bracketE consists of abody portion 25 adapted to fit against the face of thepost andhaving washer designated generally as 21 and shown in detail inFig. 12. As will be observed from this figure the washer includes acentral offset portion 28 which forms'a shoulder lying intermediate thewing portions 29. The offset portion or shoulder 28 is intended toflt inthe slot 26 to admit of the bracketplate shifting laterally on the postwhen the'head 30of the fastening 3| draws the washer plate against thepost. In other words, the washer '21, although clamped securely to thepost provides a space between the wings thereof and the post whichpermits of the desired movement of the bracket plate. The wings 29 ofthe washer overlie the metal at the sides of the. slots'26 andeffectively clamp the relatively resilient bracket plate in position.

The are ,shaped buffer springs 32may also be provided with a singlestiffening or reinforcing rib 33 as clearly shown'in Fig. 9, if desired,to render the same more resilient orflexible. In that connection howeverit may be noted that the number of, or the absence of, stiffening ribsused in a particular installation depends entirely on the requirementsof the individual installation. The H arc shaped buffer springs 32 havetheir spaced flanges projecting outwardly so that the same may bereadily connected with the portions 25 of the bracket plate by thefastenings 34 and may be also connected by the fastenings 35 with theguard rail or strip A.

All of the foregoing features are of much practical importance from thestandpoint of facilitating the original installation and subsequentmaintenance of the guard rail. Frequently guard rails are ofconsiderable length but due to limitations in fabrication and in thelength of transportation facilities the sections which form thecompleted guard rail A must be transported to the site of theinstallation and then assembled. The present type of intermediate postsupporting bracket E contributes materially to facility in mountingadjacent sections of the strip on the bracket while limited to thespacing between supporting posts,

but a strip may be long enough to span the dis- .tance between two ormore posts, the spacing of the posts being dictated by the type ofinstallation and not by the length of strip sections. -In any event,however, the type of bracket facilitates installationv Moreover, the'shiftable mounting of the bracket on the post adequately provides forme'etin'gthe special conditions heretofore referred to and insures thatthe main body of the 'strip will flcmt in a relatively horizontalposition on intermediate posts while all of the relative slack andimpact on the strip is taken up entirely by the-heavy duty springdevices which pull the ends 'of the entire guard rail toward the endposts.

Without further description it is thoughtthat the features andadvantages of the invention will be. readily apparent to those skilledin the art,

In that connection howstrip.

and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportionand minor details of .con-

- struction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of theinvention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1.,A highway guard including .end and intermediate posts arranged atspaced intervals, a. guard strip, spring means for connecting the stripto the end posts, a bracket connected to the strip at each intermediatepost, said bracket including a slotted plate adapted to contact with thepost face, a washer device having an offset boss fitting in said'slotand adapted to bear directly against the post surface to provide a spacefor receiving the edges of the plate whereby the plate may shift'on theboss between the washer and the face of the post, and a bolt passingthrough said washer and the post to rgidly secure the boss of the washerthereto.

2. Inc. highway guard, a guard strip, a post, and means for mounting thestrip on the post comprising, a bracket having a slot, and means forholding the bracket on the post including a fastening and aninterconnected washer, the latter being of such dimensions as to maskthe slot in the plate and having an integral offset portion fitting insaid slot whereby the bracket is shiftably supported on the washer whenthe same is drawn to the post by the fastening.

3. In a highway guard, a guard strip, a post, andmeans for mounting thestrip on the post comprising, a bracket having a slot, and means forholding the bracket onwthe post including a fastening and aninterconnected washer, the latter being of such dimensions as to maskthe slot and having outwardly flared side edge portions mediate postsarranged at spaced intervals, a

guard strip, spring means for connecting the strip to the end posts,bracket means connected to the strip at intermediate post locationsjsaidbracket means including a bracket plate and a pair of are shaped springmembers, said members having their open sides turned outwardly toprovide. outer bers respectively with the strip and bracket plate.

. 5. A highway guard including a guard strip, and

offsettingv bracket means for supporting the strip,

said bracket means including a plate, arc shaped spring members havingtheir curved sides adjacent each other to provide outwardly opening toolI clearances and forming flanges for connecting respectively with theplate and with the guard strip.

6. A highway guard including a guard strip,

and offsetting bracket means for supporting the.

'7. A highway guard including a guard strip,

and oiisetting bracket means for supporting the strip, said bracketmeans including a plate, spring members of substantially U-shapedcross-section having their bight portions adjacent each other, saidbight portions being provided with transverse stifl'ening ribs and theleg portions of said members projecting laterally outward in spacedapart relation to provide intermediate-tool clearances and also toconnect respectively with the plate and with the guard strip.

8. A highway guard including end and intermediate posts arranged atspaced intervals, a guard strip; spring means for connecting the stripto the end posts, a bracket for supporting the strip on eachintermediate post, each of said brackets having a slot, and meansincluding a body having an oflset portion projecting through the slotand seating against the post to provide a space between the body and thepost for slidably receiving a portion of the bracket and also to clampthe same to the post whereby said bracket can move as the strip expandsand contracts under temperature changes, or under impact, to transmitguard strip movement freely to the end springs.

9. A highway guard including end and intermediate posts arranged atspaced intervals, a guard strip, spring means adapted to exert tensionin the direction of the length of the strip for connecting the same tothe end posts, brackets each having a slot and adapted to mount the in-'termediate portions of the strip on said intermediate posts, and amember associated with each bracket and including a body and an oflsetboss adapted to project through the slot therein and to seat against thepost and thereby provide clearances to slidably clamp the bracket to thepost whereby each bracket may shift in the direction of the length ofthe strip as it expands or contracts or flexes under impact.

10. In a highway guard, a continuous guardstrip, end posts, means fortensioning the continuous guard strip in the direction of its length,and connecting the same to said end posts, intermediate posts, means formounting the intermediate portion of the continuous guard strip onintermediate posts, said means comprising a bracket at each intermediatepost rigidly connected with the continuous guard strip and having aslot, a fastening on each intermediate post a washer having an offsetshoulder passing through said slot and the inner face of said shoulderseating against the roadside face of the post, the edges of saidshoulder providing a guide and support on which the bracket may shift.

' WALTER F. SCHULZ.

